Toy Design Engineer Jobs in Chicago, IL (NOW HIRING)

ABOUT US
tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world's leading brands. With more than 1,400 employees across 28 countries., we offer an impressive range of solutions - from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery.
Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald's, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and adidas.
Most importantly, we're a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best.
WHAT MATTERS THE MOST
Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving.
tms is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice! Visit us at tmsw.com.
WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE
Product Designer will sit within our Global Product Design team.
Love toys? Great. Love collecting? Even greater! This is not just a toy design role.
We're looking for a creative product designer/developer with a strong fandom for collectibles, gaming, lifestyle and fashion products at their core. An interest in how sport, music and entertainment influences culture would also be a welcomed. Someone who understands that modern collectability, play and brand engagement live far beyond just the toy and games aisle.
In our quest, we'd love to meet designers who are culturally fluent and visually confident; people inspired as much by fashion drops, sneaker culture, sport, music, gaming and streetwear merch as by blind box collectibles and kidult toys. You will help shape product-led ideas and experiences that resonate with older kids, teens, Gen-Z and kidult audiences, while remaining grounded in manufacturable, scalable reality for mass market promotions.
You will support and influence the Global Family Business Unit, across the end-to-end process, from early ideation through development and production, with a particular emphasis on bringing product concepts to life, visual storytelling and sell-in thinking. This role requires a strong creative mind and a real passion for bringing concepts to life as collectibles that will be coveted and cherished by the consumer.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE ORGANIZATION
Concept, Ideation and Culture

• Generate fast, original physical products, collectibles and experience concepts in response to campaign strategy briefs, dovetailing thinking with cultural moments, trends, brand, consumer and market insights
• Bring play, lifestyle, fashion, entertainment, sport and kidult insights into creative sprints, ideation and innovation sessions
• Help identify global and local market trends and translate them into relevant product opportunities
• Immerse yourself in the world of retail brands, licensing and IP to support internal teams and client understanding

Design, Visualisation & Storytelling

• Communicate ideas clearly through appropriate mixed-media tools: mood boards, sketches, digital visuals, proof-of-concept renders and physical prototypes
• Create visually engaging presentations and concept boards that bring ideas to life
• Write clear, compelling copy that explains design thinking rationalise and strategic intent
• Develop creative concepts into compelling, high perceived-value products
• Balance creativity with real-world commercial checks, including, cost, manufacturing, safety and sustainability

Collaboration and Development

• Solve complex design and engineering challenges with cross-functional teams
• Produce red-line draw-overs, 3D prints and prototype/sketch models to communicate solutions effectively
• Work alongside peers across, brand partnerships, account, strategy, creative, digital, engineering, delivery and supply chain teams
• Support senior stakeholder on large scale programs while confidently leading smaller workstreams end-to-end

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO HAVE

• Bachelor's degree in Toy Design, Product Design, Industrial Design or another relevant creative discipline, or equivalent professional experience

• 3+ years of agency or in-house product/industrial design experience within toys/games, lifestyle/fashion, sport, entertainment or adjacent categories

• Knowledge of global retail brands, licenses, and studios in the consumer product, toy, games, and entertainment categories

• Strong presenter and storyteller, with the ability to deliver concise and engaging presentations using various media - communication is key

• A strong portfolio demonstrating depth and range in concept thinking, cultural awareness, visual storytelling
• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat)

• Familiar with Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Teams, PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Sharepoint)
• Agile, hands-on design thinking and problem solving

• Foundational knowledge of 3D modelling, printing, and rendering software (e.g., Fusion 360, Blender, ZBrush, SolidWorks, Freeform, Keyshot, or similar) and experience in character sculpting
• Foundational understanding of basic injection molding processes and designing around value engineering and product safety parameters
• A strong grasp of color theory, an eye for detail, and experience in driving appeal and perceived value

Any of the following would be a plus

• A fan with passion in kidult culture, knowledge of Gen-Z audiences and the toys, collectibles, and lifestyle consumer products that appeal to them
• A true fan of collectibles, toys, and pop-culture
• Understanding of play patterns, and safety standards (EN71/ASTM).

• Curiosity about how consumers engage with both mainstream brands and emerging IP
• Comfortable and confident working in a fast-moving, hybrid and cross-functional environment

Starting salary between $75,000-$80,000
TOTAL REWARDS
Our total rewards philosophy integrates programs for compensation, benefits, recognition, learning and development, corporate culture, corporate citizenship and work-life balance. While individual program components may differ by country, some things remain constant:

• Our commitment to rewarding results
• Opportunities to work with talented and driven individuals at every level of our company who respect each other, treat each other fairly and hold one another accountable for our customers'-and our company's-success

There's more ...
Generous medical, dental, vision and other great benefits
Paid parental and medical leave programs
401(k) with a company match component and profit sharing
15 days of paid time off plus company holidays
Hybrid work model
Tuition reimbursement and student loan repayment assistance
Inclusive employee resource groups
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
We are an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
RECRUITING AGENCIES
tms does not accept agency resumes submitted by third-party vendors unless a valid agreement has been signed and the tms Talent Acquisition Team has granted authorization for submissions for a specified position. Please do not submit or forward resumes to our site, tms employees, or any other company location. tms is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes.